Hey guys,
I have a 16" LMT with Iron sights that I have been practicing with for the past few weeks. I’m feeling pretty comfortable with it so I’d like to get a scope and practice shooting 100+ yards.
Can you guys recommend a good scope for a beginner?
Thanks for your help.
Can you not try out different systems at your local range and see what results you get? That’s probably the best way of doing it without risking a spend you might regret!
No ranges near me. I just practice shooting on my property. We have around 50 acres and I am in the process of building myself a range with measured targets, etc.
I am still in the process of choosing my own scope…I have been using others scopes to get a feel for what works for me. The purchase price leaves me leery of just purchasing outright without trying it out for myself first. I would be curious what other recommendations would be. Having property is definitely a plus.
Trijicon AccuPoint 1-4x24 would be a great option
Didn’t think the optics section was appropriate?
Why can’t you shoot 100 yards with iron sights? Have you not been doing that? If you can’t shoot irons out to several hundred yards then you really don’t have the hang of them yet. No harm in that, but don’t kid yourself into thinking that an optic will help you shoot better, it won’t. It can however help you see better.
What do you want to do with it? Defend yourself? Shoot teeny tiny groups on paper? Do you want to play gun games eventually like 3-gun/practical rifle matches?
What’s your budget? Nobody can give you any real advice other than perhaps blurt out their favorites.
Good guidance here.
If the LMT is your only AR and you are set on getting a scope, I would start out with a 1-4x.
Quite a few of folks here consider a 1-4x variable a good all around optic. I am comfortable with the capabilities of an AR with a 1-4x optic from 0 to 600 yards.
There is a plethora of decent options out there from around $500 to over $1000. Do your own research to get an idea of the pros and cons of each one and decide what covers what you want to do.
Do a search and you should find a lot of information on these for a start:
Burris MTAC 1-4x
Burris XTR 1-4x
Vortex PST Viper 1-4x
Leupold VX-R Patrol 1.25-4x
Leupold Mark 4 1.5-5x
Trijicon AccuPoint 1-4x
Nightforce NXS 1-4x
AZ-Renegade thanks for all the recommendations.
I guess I should have made my first post more informative but I was not aware how complicated the scope choices are.
I just want a basic scope that will allow me to sight easier when shooting with friends. If it allows me to target things better that will be great but I am not looking for something super expensive right now. I guess I will start reading up more on the ones you mentioned and see where it takes me.
My first AR scope was a nikon M-223 1-4x. I got it based on affordability. I upgraded after a few months to a VX-r patrol. The only complaints with the nikon were the adj knobs be inadverdantly moved while cased and the dot in the reticle covering tge target at extended distance, 200yds.
No complaints about glass clarity until I got the leupold which was so much better as was the lighted reticle.
Its tough getting that 1st scope. The prices can be disheartening. Just remember that price is usually indicative of quality so beware the really cheap stuff.
So…what’s the budget?
guys around here can have very different opinions of what constitutes “super expensive.”
For me, baseline is $400-$800, expensive is $1000-$1500 and “super expensive” is $2500+
Without knowing what your budget is, we can’t give you great guidance. If you only shoot to 100, with the occasional shot further, and don’t have much need for speed, I would just say pick up a SWFA SS 6x42MQ for $300 and call it good.
I guess I can do around 5-600 to get something “decent.”
I am in the same boat as you and looking at the MTAC on a quick detach mount. Under $500. GH
Guys I’ve been looking at some of the recommended scopes and also put some more research into the Trijicon Accupoint 1-4x24 since I have heard a few recommendations on it.
Seems like I can get the Accupoint for $800. Do you think it is worth paying the extra 2-300 bucks for it, or is there something you guys would say is comparable for a little less.
What is it about the Accupoint that you guys would say makes it special?
A Burris 1-4 (Tac30, MTAC or XTR) would be a good affordable place to start. You could go cheaper but that means you’d be upgrading sooner.
I have the XTR with the BDC reticle and love it…good glass and it’s easy to use. There are scopes out there with better turrets but if you have a BDC reticle you shouldn’t have to use your turrets much after you get a good ‘zero’. dialed in.
Gunzilla,
How would you compare the Burris XTR to the Trijicon Accupoint? Both seemed priced similar and both get great reviews.
The Accupoint has better glass, but it’s lack of a BDC is a negative.
Both are good, and I own both. I like the Burris because of it’s BDC. I think I’d trust the Accupoint to go through a lot more before going tits up though…built really well. It’s also closer to true 1x, no fishbowl effect.
If I were you and not planning on shooting much beyond 300 yards, then I’d go with the Accupoint…it’s superior in every way other than one which is the reticle. Shots longer than 300 when playing games are the sole reason I bought the Burris.
Neither is a “bad” decision.
As Hopkins said, it’s all about the reticle. I did not like the triangle for long range shots where you need to compensate for bullet drop. Both scopes are well built and I would take either if all my shooting was inside of 200 yards…but out here in the desert we have unlimited distances where we can engage ‘tin cans’.
I’ve used my XTR past 400 yards with ease, not sure I’d have the same success with the triangle reticle of the Trijicon.
The only advantage I see with the Accupoint is a reticle that needs no batteries, but I hardly use the illumination in my Burris unless it’s a low light situation, or if I’m shooting at a black target. I keep about 15 batteries available as spares just in case…so I’m good to go. 
I seem to be leaning towards the Burris. Thank you guys for your help finding it.
All my googling of the Burris brings up a lot of talk on the Larue mount. Do you guys think that is the best bet, or are there other mount options? Does the scope ship with a standard mount or will I have to buy one anyway?
I have a LMT Defender. Should I take off both front and rear sites when using this scope or is it normal practice to leave the front/rear?
Also, I see Midway offers it with a few other options, one being the Burris fastfire window on top. Do you guys think it is worth it to get that for close range both eyes open firing? My buddy has an aimpoint t1 and I like it, but I’m not sure if the Fastfire option on top of the XTR will just get in the way or be a distraction, etc.
Thanks again guys.
Save the extra money and practice on the 1x setting for close-up shooting… you’ll get used to it pretty quickly.
What I do not like about the additional ‘fast-fire’ sight is you have to change your cheek weld position slightly to use it…plus it’s more likely to be damaged if you bump it while moving.
Larue makes a great mount but I skimped and bought an American Defense ‘Recon’ mount for the XTR No mount will come with the XTR. I’m using a Larue LT751 for my Aimpoint H1, it provides an absolute co-witness with my back-up iron sights.
I do not run back-up sights on the scoped rifle…but that’s mostly because I’m too cheap to buy another set of Troy BUIS.
Check out Primary Arms for your scope, they have some scope and mount combinations that may get you a decent set-up to start out with if you want to save a few bucks.
The 1 thing to remember with optics is that you get what you pay for so don’t try to skimp too much or you’ll just be back in the market in another year.